Well-boring apparatus



J. 0. HEADRICK AND 1. M. WINFREY.

WELL BORING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED IuNE 20,1918.

Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

LLS14,960.

INVENTORS 7 VTTORNEYS To all whom it may concern.'

UNTTED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

JAMES 0. HEADRICK AND JOHN M. WINFREY, OF HUMBLE, TEXAS.

Wl'fLL-BORIN G APPARATUS.

l Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

Be it known that we, JAMES O. HEADRICK and J oHN M. VVINFREY, citizensof the United States, residing at Humble, in the county of Harris andState of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inWell-Boring Apparatus, of which the following isa specification..

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a well boringapparatus.

The object of the invention is to provide a a device of the characterdescribed, through which a drill stem may be rotated, in drilling awell, 'and by means of which said stem may be held elevated, when it isdesired to unscrew the joints thereof, in order to withdraw the stemfrom the bore'.

In drilling by the rotary process, a 'drill stem is employed, which isformed of sections, united by means of couplings.

To the lower end of this stem the drill bit is attached, and indrilling, the stem is rotated by any well known form of rotary.

When it is desired to withdraw the stem from the bore, the sections ofthe stem must be separated, for convenience in handling, and inaccomplishin this work, the stem is elevated and held 1n elevatedposition while the sections above the rotary are being unscrewed. Whenthese sections are u-nscrewed, and disposed of, the pipe is againelevated, and the upper sections again unscrewed and so on until thestem is entirelyv withdrawn.

It is the object of this invention to provide an apparatus through whichthe stem ma be rotated in drilling, and by means of whlch said stem maybe held in elevated position, while being separated into sections anddisposed of,as hereinbefore explained.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has particularrelation to certain novel features of construction, operation andarrangement of parts, an example of which is given in thisspecificationand illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Fi re 1, is a planview of the apparatus shtwlng the pipe gripping device removed, an iFig. 2, is a side elevation thereof, shown partially in section.

Referrlng now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numeralsof reference designate similar parts in each of the figures, the numeral1, refers to a supporting framework, whereon the base plate 2 ismounted, said plate having a central opening 3, and surrounding saidopenin is an` annular upstanding flange 4. ounted upon the base plateand surrounding said flange is the rotary table 5, and interposedbetween said plate and table are the antifriction rollers 6 upon whichthe table operates. Said table is secured in position by means of aring-like nut 7, which is thread ed into the upper end of the flange 4,and seats in a counter-sunk groove 8, in thetable. The underside of thetable is formed into a beveled gear face 9, which is in mesh -wth thepinion 10, fixed upon the inner end of the drive shaft 11. Mounted uponthe rotary table is a pipe gripping device as 12, of any desired form,which grips and rotates the stem 13, in drilling. The inner wall of theannular flange 4 is provided with a plurality of vertically extendingrecesses 14, in which the respective dogs 15 are pivoted, at their lowerends. These dogs are yheld withdrawn into their respective recessesduring drilling operations, by means of thel annular sleeve 16, whichfits up into the central opening 3, of the base plate. This sleeve isheld in position by means of a plurality of set bolts as 17, whichextend through vertically extending slots 18, in the sleeve, and areanchored to the base plate. These slots permit a limited verticalmovement of the sleeve 16 relative to the base plate. The numeral 19refers to a transverse shaft, which is rotatably mounted 1n suitablebearings, and extendlng therefrom are the rigid arms 20, which areYspaced apart, and whose free ends are turned 1nwardl'y, and engage underthe sleeve 16.

One end of this shaft is turned u ward forming the lever 21, and a link22, 1s provthe mechanism just described to elevate the free end of thearm 20, which in turn elevates the sleeve 16, and the upper end thereof,Contacts against the dogs 1,5, to forcev them back into the recesses14;, Where they are held during drilling operations. When it is desiredto Withdraw the stem, the pedal 25, is released, permitting the sleeveto descend, which in turn, permits the dogs to drop inwardly against thestem 13. The upper ends ot' these dogs have jaws, as 26, securedthereto, Whose inner faces serrated, and engage against the stem. lhenit is desired to Withdraw the stem it is pulled upwardly a distance soas to bring the upper sections thereof above the rotary, Where they maybe unscrewed. When the pipe is released, the dogs immediately engagetherewith, and hold it in elevated position, so that the upper sectionsmay be unscrewed and disposed thereof. The stem is then again pulledupwardly, so as to bring the other device to an accessible position andthereupon the dogs will again immediately grip the stem and prevent itfrom descending, while the exposed sections are being disosed of and soon until the entire stem is Withdrawn.

renee@ What We claim is I l l. In a device of the character descrihed, abase 'plate having an opening therethrough, to admit a/'drill stern,pipe engaging means anchored "'/to said base plate and provided toengage with a stem and hold the same elevated, and a sleeve arranged inthe base plate opening and provided to engage With and hold said meansWithdrawn from the stem.

2. The combination with a suitable base, having a central opening, of aplurality of dogs pivotally secured to the base, a sleeve, litted withinsaid opening and means for actuating the sleeve against said dogs toEhold them apart,

-ln testimony whereof We have signed our` naines to this specificationin thepresence of two' subscribing Witnesses.

JAMES 0. HEADRICK. JOHN M. WNFREY.

Vitnesses:

E, V.. HARDWAY, kann BRUNs.

